Course sub-headings

Course overview

Social work is concerned with enhancing the wellbeing of people in their social environments. It is a broad profession with diverse practices that may include working with individuals, families, groups, communities and organisations.

The Bachelor of Social Work provides a progressive and innovative approach to social work with emphasis on personal, community and social development in urban, rural, local and global contexts. The course engages with the interplay between diversity, power and social inequality through anti-oppressive, empowerment and critically-reflective approaches to social work practice and social policy.

Throughout the course, you will develop knowledge and understanding of:

the interplay between the broad socio-economic, interpersonal and personal influences on individual peoples’ lives;

how the socio-political and policy contexts in which people work influences their day-to-day practice;

a range of social research methods and the ability to design and conduct research directly relevant to social work practice;

the broad inter-disciplinary nature of social work and an ability to apply knowledge from theories, research and experience in practice

principles of non-discrimination, human rights and social justice, and an ability to apply these in relation to traditionally marginalised and disadvantaged groups;

working across social and cultural differences, whilst respecting difference and multiple diversities of identities;

personal and professional standards of practice in the context of a capacity for life-long learning.

The Bachelor of Social Work is offered at pass or Honours level. Students who meet eligibility requirements can apply to enrol in Honours at completion of their third year. The key eligibility criterion being a WAM of 70 or above in the Bachelor of Social Work. H430 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) is then completed in the fourth year where BSW students are expected to undertake a suite of research focused units. It is important to plan your pathway through the Bachelor of Social Work carefully to keep the option of Honours open for the final year. Please see Course Structure Level 4 H430 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) for more information.

Professional recognition

The course is accredited with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Students completing the course are eligible to apply for membership of AASW and can practise professionally throughout Australia.

Note: All information regarding professional recognition is accurate at the date of publication. Enquiries regarding accreditation and professional membership should be directed to the School of Health and Social Development in order to ascertain the current status of accreditation at any future point in time beyond publication. Representations about accreditation apply only to the course, and the AASW retains discretion as to who they admit as members of their association. Deakin University cannot exercise any control over membership of an external body.

Fees and charges

Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.

Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
A Commonwealth supported place is one for which the university receives some government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute only part of the cost of their course. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be an Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen or holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit/s of study.

* The "indicative annual course fee" cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2015, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines. The cost of each unit offered in 2015 can be viewed from the Unit Search.
Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on "indicative course fees" to calculate the total future cost of their course.

Career opportunities

Social work is part of a growing human services field, with graduates working across local, state and federal government departments; in private and non-government human services organisations; and in various advocacy, policy making and tribunal capacities.

As a Social Work graduate you may be involved in activities as diverse as policy development and research, counselling, family therapy, drug and alcohol counselling, community development, refugee assistance and tribunal capacities. Social workers also work as program managers or coordinators, as advocates, facilitators, activists or consultants. You may work in specialist areas such as health, housing, education, or with groups such as the aged, women, youth or multi-cultural populations.

Course rules

Students are required to successfully complete 32 credit points of study.

To be awarded H430 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) a person must complete the Honours units HSW401, HSW402, HSW404, HSW416 and HSW417 (refer course structure).

Failure of a field education placement will normally lead to exclusion.

Course structure

Note: Students who commenced prior to 2009 must follow the course structure applicable to their level of commencement.

Attendance requirements

Cloud (online) students are required to attend a minimum of 20 days of face to face time delivered during the four-year degree. Dates to be advised. Attendance requirements will also apply to some units in other modes of study, including campus, and community based delivery at the Institute of Koorie Education. See Handbook entries for details of individual units.

Work-Integrated Learning

Field education placements provide an opportunity for students to learn from experience under the supervision of qualified social work practitioners. During the course you will complete two field education placements of 500 hours each, totalling a minimum of 1000 hours that are conducted in a variety of communities and workplaces in metropolitan and regional settings. As social work at Deakin has a rural focus, one of the two fieldwork placements will have a rural focus.

Department of Human Services policy and Working with Children Check

In accordance with Department of Human Services policy* all students are required to obtain a Police Records Check (PRC) each year prior to undertaking field placements. Students may also be required to obtain a Working with Children Check (WWC).

* Department of Human Services Policy on Working with Children Check and Police Records Checks can be found at:

** Department of Justice 2007, Working with Children Act 2005, Victoria, Australia retrieved April 2012.

Entry requirements - general

Deakin University offers admission to undergraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.For more information on the Admission Criteria and Selection Policy visit The Guide.

Credit for prior learning - general

The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.

How to apply

Applications for campus and Cloud (online) study for Trimester 1 must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre (VTAC). For more information refer to VTAC (external site).

Applications for Trimester 2 and Trimester 3 must be made directly to the University through the Applicant Portal. For information on the application process and closing dates, see the Apply web page. Please note that closing dates may vary for individual courses.